Garment-stretcher.



PATENTED MAR. 14, 1905.

L. NELSON. GARMENT STRETOHER.

APPLICATION I'ILED DEO.6, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Qwuentoz lIawj/VZwn/r attozmq No. 784,752. PATENTED MAR. 14, 1905. L. NELSON.

GARMENT STRETCHER.

APPLIOATION FILED DEO.6, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Fatented March 14, 1905.

PATENT OEEIcE.

LARS NELSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

GARMENT-STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 784,752, dated March 14, 1905.

Application filed December 5, 1904. Serial No 235,595.

To rtZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LARs NELSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Garment-Stretchers; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in stretching and drying frames which are employed for preventing woolen undershirts and similar garments from shrinking after being washed.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple, durable, comparatively inexpensive, and highly-efiicient frame or form of this character which may be readily adjusted to accommodate shirts of various sizes and which may be compactly folded to facilitate storage and transportation.

WVith the above and other objects in view theinvention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a drying and stretching form constructed in accordance with my invention, the same being shown in its opened or extended position. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same, showing the frame collapsed or folded to permit ashirt or similar-garment to be elevation of the frame, the parts being in the position shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the frame, showing the same partially opened or extended, this position being an intermediate one between the position shown in Figs. 2 and 1 of the drawings. Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the frame, the parts being in the position shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the frame, showing the same compactly folded to permit it to be readily stored or shipped; and Figs. 7, 8, and 9 each show front and side elevational views of the different connections for the bars or sections of which the form or frame is made.

Referring more particularlyto the drawings, the numeral 1 denotes my improved form or frame, which consists of a body portion 2, which is substantially the shape of the body portion of a shirt, and two arm portions 3, which extend laterally from the upper part of the body portion 2 and which are adapted to project into the arms of the shirt. The body portion 2 comprises two side bars or sections 4, which have their lower ends pivotally and adjustably connected by a bottom bar 5 and their upper ends similarly connected by two top bars 6, which latter also form the top bars for the arm portions 3, the latter consisting of said upper bars 6 and pivotally-mounted adjustable lower bars 7. All of the said bars 4, 5, 6, and 7 are preferably constructed of wood and are rectangular in cross-section, their ends and edges being suitably rounded, as shown.

The lower bar 5 has one of its ends pivoted, by means of a wood-screw or any other suitable pivot 5, to the lower end of one of the bars 4 and its other end is adapted to be adjustably connected by means of a bolt 8, upon which is provided a wing nut 9 and two washers 9. The said bolt 8 is passed through an opening formed in the lower end of the other of the bars 4 and is adapted to be inserted in any one of a longitudinallyarranged series of notches or recesses 10, which are formed in the outer free portion of the bar 5. In said bar 5 is also formed adjacent to its pivot 5 a notch 11, which is similar to the notches or recesses 10 and which is adapted to receive said bolt 8 when it is desired to apply a shirt to the frame. It will be seen that when the thumb-nut 9 is loosened upon the bolt 8 the bar 5 may be disengaged from the said bolt and the two bars4 moved toward or from each other and then secured by inserting the bolt in the propernotch 10 and tightening the thumb-nut 9.

The upper or top bars 6 are pivoted intermediate their ends to the upper ends of the bars 4 by means of wood-screws or any other suitable pivots 12. The inner ends 13 of said bars 6 are formed with longitudinallydis posed slots 14, through which is passed a screw-bolt 15, which is similar to the bolt 8. When the-thumb-nut of this bolt 15 is loosened,

it will be seen that the two bars 6 may be adjustably adjusted upon each other to vary the space between the bars 4: according to the size of the shirt to be placed upon the frame, and to facilitate this adjustment one of the said bars 6 is provided, preferably upon its top edge, with a suitable scale 16, as clearly shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. \Vhenthe said bolt 15 is loosened, the bars 6 may be swung angularly with respect to each other and the bars i, the said bolt forming a pivot. The outer ends 17 of the bars 6 are formed with longitudinally-disposed slots 18, in which are slidably and adjustably mounted screw-bolts 19, which are similar to the bolts 8 and 15. Said bolts 19 project through said slots and through openings formed in the outer ends of the bars 7, so that the latter may be adjusted longitudinally and angularly upon the pertions 17 of the bars 6, said bolts 19 acting as pivots. In order to hold the inner ends of the bars 7 in an adjusted angular position with respect to the bars 6, so that the arm portions 3 of the frame may be varied in width to correspond to the width of the sleeve of a shirt, I. provide upon each of the bars' i, adjacent to their upper ends, a longitudinally-disposed series of pins or studs 20, which are preferably formed of wood and secured in openings in said bar by means of small nails 21, as clearly shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings. It will be seen that when the said bars 7 are swung angularly with respect to the bar 6 and inserted between two of the pins or studs 20 they will be held in that position by the engagementof the shirt-sleeve with their outer edges.

In applying a shirt to the form or frame I collapse or fold the same so that the said pivotally-connected bars and sections assume the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. In this position it will be seen that the bolt 8 is engaged with the recess 11 in the bar 5 and that the two arm portions extend almost vertically and longitudii'ially with respect to the body portion, which is thereby contracted. When the parts are in this position, the shirt is slipped over the top of the frame and the two arm portions 3 are permitted to slip into the sleeves of the shirt. The top bars 6 are then swung downwardly to a horizontal position, (shown in Fig. L of the drawings) and they are adjusted upon each other according to the size of the shirt, the scale 16 facilitat-= ing this adjustment, as will be readily understood. The lower portions of the side bars 4 are then swung outwardly to stretch the lower portion of the shirt-body, and they are then secured by means of the bar 5 and bolt 8. The lower bars 7 of the arm portions 3 are then adjusted angularly between the pins 20 to stretch the sleeves of the shirt to the desired extent. The opening of the shirt front or neck may then be buttoned, and, if desired, ribbons or bands may be passed around or secured to the bar 5 and their ends attached to the bottom of the shirt-body in order to fasten the same down.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to Without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A drying and stretching frame for garments, consisting of a body portion comprising a bottom bar and side bars pivotally connected thereto, and arm portions comprising bars pivotally connected to the side bars and also pivotall y and slidabl y connected together, substantially as described.

2. A drying and stretching frame for garments, consisting of a body portion comprising a bottom bar and side bars pivotally connected thereto, and arm portions comprising upper bars pivotally connected together, and als pivotally connected to the side bars, and lower bars pivotally connected to the upper bars and angularly adjustable with respect thereto and with respect to the side bars, sul stantially as described.

3. A drying or stretching frame for undershirts or similar garments comprising two side bars, a bottom bar pivotally connected to one of said side bars, means for adjustably connecting said bottom bar to the other of said side bars, two top bars pivotally connected intermediate their ends to said side bars, means for adjustabl y connecting the inner ends of said top bars and adjustable bars connecting said top and said side bars, substantially as described.

4:. A dryingor stretching frame for undershirts or similar garments comprising two side bars, a bottom bar pivotally connected to one of said side bars, means for adjustably connecting said bottom bar to the other of said side bars, two top bars pivotally connected intermediate their ends to said side bars, means for adjustably connecting the inner ends of said top bars, angularly-swinging bars pivotally connected to said top bars, and means for adjustably securing said angularly-swinging bars upon said side bars, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LABS NELSON. WVitnesses:

I'IARVEY ARNEsoN, FRIEDRICH PARTHI ER. 

